Morocco to Send Cybersecurity Experts to Qatar for 2022 World Cup

Rabat – At the request of Qatar and as part of its broader framework to boost security cooperation between Rabat and Doha, Morocco has agreed to send a team of cybersecurity experts to the Gulf country ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

On Friday, Abdellatif Hammouchi, the head of Morocco’s General Directorate for National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST) became the first senior foreign official to visit the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar, where the final game of the 2022 World Cup will be held.

Hammouchi’s visit to the stadium came after Qatar expressed its interest to benefit from Morocco’s expertise in the security field.

The Moroccan official was able to see up close the stadium’s various infrastructures with a seat capacity of 80,000. During his visit, he also stopped by the security operations room.

Hammouchi visited the command post in charge of cybersecurity and held meetings with several Qatari officials to discuss security cooperation during the World Cup. The tournament is set to kick off in November with the participation of 29 nations, including the host country and Morocco.

The DGST-DGSN chief also held talks with the Qatari Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani and Qatar’s Director of Public Security, Saad bin Jassem Khalifi on the sidelines of the 2022 International Exhibition for Internal Security and Civil Defense (MILIPOL).

With an aim of sharing Morocco’s expertise in the security field, Hammouchi inquired about the country’s final preparation phase of the FIFA World Cup in a series of meetings with officials.

His visit to the Lusail Iconic Stadium appears to be a positive response to Qatar’s request as it was agreed by the end of his meetings that Morocco will send a team of cybersecurity experts to Doha to tighten security around the stadium set to host the final of the upcoming World Cup.

Morocco also expressed interest in 2020 to assist Qatar in successfully organizing the World Cup by offering to provide the Gulf country with human and logistical assistance for the competition.